Whether it’s the smell of churros wafting down the street in the morning on the way to your TEFL classes, or the long summer evenings where you can sit out on a “terraza” nursing a “caña” (a small cold, beer), living in Madrid can throw up so many different experiences compared to those you are used to. Forget the other lazy articles that say how confusing the paperwork is, or how late the meal times are – those things may be true, but there are so many positives to consider that far outweigh the annoyances.

TEFL helps you travel and experience wonderful places, such as Madrid

I fell in love from the moment I got off the train, age 13, and found a rainforest and turtles in the main train station. Since then I have always thought of Madrid as a place that has so many hidden secrets that have the ability to completely change your impression of the city in an instant, and it’s still just as true for me today. In fact, it no longer surprises me when I find these things out; for example when I was informed by a student that they had been skiing that morning at the ski resort north-west of Madrid, I didn’t even blink (I did look it up later to confirm though, as it was an unseasonably warm winter´s day and I just couldn’t imagine it!).

Another quirk that makes Madrid a fun city to live in is the strong sense of identity each neighborhood has. La Latina, known for the well-trodden route of tapas bars; Malasaña, known for its lively nightlife; Chueca, known as the gay friendly, open and accepting neighborhood with trendy bars and shops; Salamanca, the area to see and be seen, with all the fashion choices and high-end restaurants you desire; and Lavapies (which translates as “wash your feet”) providing a really interesting combination of older Madrileños, immigrants and hipsters. All of these neighborhoods are central in the city, and most importantly, lived in, unlike so many capitals that get quiet once the workers travel out to the suburbs. Live an exciting life with TEFL!